Challenging the Myths of Urban Dynamics in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Evidence from Nigeria

Urbanization and linkages to smallholder farming in sub-Saharan Africa: Implications for food security

“…Comparability is further confounded by a general lack of census data, especially in SSA. Population data as well as urban classifications carry political implications as they may determine electoral constituencies, access to government resources or have effects on industrial location (Potts 2012a).…”

“…Recently, the narrative of rapid urbanization has been questioned by various commentators who nonetheless highlight other distinctive characteristics of African population growth and migration processes. Potts (2012a) argues that overestimations of African urbanization rates stem from projections based on urban growth patterns from the 1960s, when postIndependence investment in social infrastructure and industrialization, together with the lifting of colonial mobility controls attracted large numbers of migrants to many capital cities. This interpretation is illustrated in Figure 1, which shows the peaking of the urban annual growth rate in the 1960s.…”

“…Numerous studies confirm the decline of urban growth rates in the 1980s and 1990s (Beauchemin and Bocquier 2004;Bocquier and Traoré 2000). Potts (2005;2012a;2012b), using recent censuses and survey data points to slowing urbanization rates also since then: counter-urbanization has occurred in a handful of countries, while others have experienced very slow urbanization (1% or less) in the intercensal periods. A comparison of 1950-1955 1955-1960 1960-1965 1965-1970 1970-1975 1975-1980 1980-1985 1985-1990 1990-1995 1995-2000 2000-2005 2005-2010 Urban annual growth rate…”

Can devolution and rural capacity trigger de-urbanization? Case studies in Kenya and Malaysia respectively

“…Further systematic empirical research by Potts (2005Potts ( , 2006Potts ( , 2009Potts ( , 2012a has continued to show that the notion of rapid urbanisation in Africa no longer holds true as presented by several reports including the World Bank (2009) Developmental Report. It is shown that there is much variation in the urbanisation patterns of countries South of Sub Saharan Africa.…”

“…In Kenya, Potts (1995Potts ( , 2005Potts ( , 2006Potts ( , 2009Potts ( , 2012a has shown evidence of declining rates of urbanization in most of sub-Saharan Africa while in Malaysia there is evidence of de-industrialization due to depleting oil and gas resources. However while the factors behind de-urbanisation in both countries are different, there are lessons that Kenya can learn from Malaysia's industrialization, subsequent urbanization and now de-industrialization process.…”